Flashback: Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Ken Agyapong in a handshake
The race for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2026 flagbearership is heating up as two leading contenders, former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and businessman Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, have publicly exchanged jabs over what makes a capable leader.
In a recent engagement with former Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), Dr. Bawumia made a strong case for his candidacy, arguing that material wealth should not be the deciding factor in leadership selection.
“I may not be rich. But I have rich ideas. Poor people can also be Presidents of Ghana,” Dr. Bawumia reportedly told the gathering, positioning himself as a leader driven by vision and innovation rather than personal fortune.
However, Kennedy Agyapong, known for his outspoken nature and considerable business success, swiftly responded with a pointed counter on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
“In this world, some have rich ideas and nothing to show for it. Others turn ideas into results and wealth. Ghana needs more doers, not dreamers in suits giving speeches,” he posted, in what many observers view as a direct rebuttal to Dr. Bawumia’s remarks.
Former MMDCEs Endorse Bawumia
The contest escalated further when a forum of 220 former MMDCEs who served between 2017 and 2024 under the previous NPP administration declared their full support for Dr. Bawumia to lead the party into the 2028 presidential election.
At a press conference in Accra, Ebenezer Doku, former MCE for Adentan and spokesperson for the group, announced the endorsement, describing Dr. Bawumia as the NPP’s strongest candidate heading into the next election. The endorsement comes ahead of the party’s highly anticipated flagbearer election in January 2026.
Mr. Doku explained that following broad consultations with potential aspirants and a careful review of their competencies, vision, and loyalty to the party, the group was convinced that Dr. Bawumia is the most qualified and winnable candidate.
“Dr. Bawumia’s track record in public service, his unifying leadership, and his broad electoral appeal position him as the right candidate to lead the NPP into the 2028 elections,” Mr. Doku said.
He stressed that the endorsement is not merely symbolic but reflects a deep, grassroots-backed commitment to securing victory for Dr. Bawumia. According to him, 95% of the former MMDCEs in the forum have previously served as constituency and regional executives and understand the NPP’s internal electoral dynamics.
The group praised Dr. Bawumia’s achievements in driving Ghana’s digital transformation, including the mobile money interoperability platform, the paperless ports system, and the successful rollout of the Ghana Card.
“These policies have significantly improved Ghana’s economy and public service delivery,” Mr. Doku noted, adding that Dr. Bawumia’s inclusive leadership style and appeal across demographics make him a formidable electoral asset.
The group pledged to activate its extensive political networks across all 16 regions, promising grassroots mobilisation, door-to-door campaigns, education to counter misinformation, and resource mobilisation to support Dr. Bawumia’s campaign.
Ken’s Team Unmoved
In a swift reaction, Kwasi Kwarteng, spokesperson for Kennedy Agyapong’s campaign, downplayed the significance of the endorsement by the former MMDCEs. Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Monday, June 23, Mr. Kwarteng said such endorsements were not new and often had limited impact on election outcomes.
“It is good for them (the Bawumia camp), we wish them well if indeed they believe they have over 200 MMDCEs. I’m sure the election day will vindicate that position,” he stated.
Mr. Kwarteng criticised what he described as “a deliberate tactic to stage endorsements and create a false sense of widespread support”. He argued that a similar strategy was employed in previous contests to influence polling station executives, but it failed to deliver the expected results.
“Our focus is to engage over 200,000 polling station executives. We are confident that they will make a decision to elect a candidate who is marketable, winnable, and can unite the party,” he said.
Mr. Kwarteng emphasised that the grassroots, not staged endorsements, would determine the outcome of the flagbearership race.
“I know this time around, they [delegates] will not elect a candidate who is not marketable or cannot unite the party. If they [the Bawumia camp] want to lie to themselves that they have been endorsed by these MMDCEs, they can,” he added.
Contest of Ideologies
The subtle but sharp exchange has intensified the ongoing debate within the NPP about the kind of leadership the party and the country need heading into the 2028 general election.
Dr. Bawumia has consistently positioned himself as the architect of the country’s digital transformation, emphasising ideas and data-driven governance.
On the other hand, Kennedy Agyapong has built his campaign around practical success, wealth creation, and his reputation as a results-oriented businessman who delivers on promises.
Shaping Flagbearer Debate
The back-and-forth between the two frontrunners and supporters is expected to sharpen the focus of the NPP’s internal campaign as the January 2026 flagbearer election approaches.
Supporters of both camps have already taken to social media to defend their preferred candidates, signaling that the competition could become even more intense in the coming months.
By Ernest Kofi Adu